Wisconsin Legislature: Gambling; Indian Gaming Regulator's Act; Indians; Lotteries; Words And Phrases;

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 26 (1990)

Betting, playing gambling machines and operating gambling places are not to be considered as included within the meaning of the term lottery as used in the constitution, and chapters 945 and 565, Stats. (1987-88). Therefore, it is clear, that the meaning of the term lottery as contained in the constitution and both legislative enactments up to the present day does not include and is not meant to embrace all the forms of gambling.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 26 (1990)

One of the fundamental canons or rules of statutory/ constitutional construction is that statutes or provisions on the same subject are to be construed together.

State v. Burkman

, 96 Wis. 2d 630, 292 N.W.2d 641 (1980). These constitutional and statutory provisions are to be construed together and are considered to be in

pari

materia

because they relate to the same thing and have the same purpose and object. 2A Singer Sutherland Statutory Construction, 51.03 (Sands 4th ed. 1984). The terms "lottery" in subsection (1) and subsection (6) of article IV, section 24 of the Wisconsin Constitution have the same meaning, purpose and object. Statutes should be interpreted to make sense.

State v. Pham

, 137 Wis. 2d 31, 403 N.W.2d 35 (1987).

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 26 (1990)

It is apparent to me that during the entire legislative debate, over several years, on the advisability of adopting a resolution providing for a constitutional amendment authorizing a state operated lottery, during the public debate prior to the ratification of such constitutional amendment by statewide referendum in April of 1987, and during the legislative deliberations and debate on the enactment of legislation enabling the lottery constitutional amendment, chapter 565, there was neither legislative or public discussion or debate nor legislative or public intent to authorize the playing of roulette, blackjack, craps, slot machines, video gambling machines and other types and forms of casino gambling.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 27 (1990)

It is clear the Legislature and citizens of Wisconsin intended only to authorize a single form of gambling, a lottery, to be operated by the state, with the utilization of tickets. Indeed, the very explanation of the referendum ballot question, that I prepared and appearing with the ballot constitutional question, stated that a citizen's vote on this ballot referendum question related only to this one form of gambling. That explanation, in relevant parts, was as follows:

EXPLANATION

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 27 (1990)

A "yes" vote would permit the Legislature to create a lottery operated by the state.... A "no" vote would retain the present language of section 24 of article IV of the Wisconsin Constitution, continuing the prohibition on

this form of gambling

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 27 (1990)

(Emphasis added.)

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 27 (1990)

I therefore believe it to be clear, and conclude, that both the framers of the constitution and the Legislature in its various enactments, treat lotteries as a form of gambling separate and distinct from the other methods of gambling such as betting, playing gambling machines and the like, and the latter can therefore not be construed as being included within the term lottery as used in either the constitutional provision under consideration or in chapter 945 of the statutes. Therefore I conclude that the games allowed to be conducted by the Wisconsin state lottery do not include any of the betting/banking games, such as roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat, Chemin de fer and similar casino gambling, and do not include any forms of gambling conducted by the playing of gambling machines such as slot machines, video gambling machines and similar machines and devices.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 28 (1990)

Contained in your first question is another issue which needs to be addressed, that being the types of games which the state lottery board may legally operate resulting from specific language in article IV, section 24(6) of the Wisconsin Constitution. That provision states that "[a]ny advertising of the state lottery shall indicate the odds of a

specific lottery ticket

to be selected as

the winning ticket

for each prize amount offered." (Emphasis added.) This effect must be analyzed, because it should be determined whether the specific constitutional language has the effect of further limiting the types of games which the state lottery may legally conduct. It appears to me that the very specific language contained in the constitutional provision, quoted above, does limit the types of games which the state lottery can legally conduct to those games utilizing "tickets" in the conduct of the game. The "ticket" requirement again distinguishes the state operated lottery from other types, forms and methods of gambling.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 28 (1990)

The word "ticket" has been defined as follows: "In contracts, a slip of paper containing a certificate that the person to whom it is issued, or the holder, is entitled to some right or privilege therein mentioned or described; such, for example, are . . . lottery tickets, etc." Black's Law Dictionary 1328 (5th ed. 1979).

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 28 (1990)

From the constitutional language and the definition of the word "ticket," I conclude that a game conducted by the state lottery must utilize some form of "ticket" setting forth the rights or privileges of participation in that lottery game in order to not run afoul of the constitutional language.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 28 (1990)

Finally, in answering your first question, I wish to emphasize that the forms of gambling encompassed by the definition of bet and gambling machines are prohibited by statute only, and do not come within the purview of prohibited lotteries as described in the constitution of this state. Therefore, the Legislature may allow casino-type gambling in the State of Wisconsin. Should it wish to do so, it need only enact appropriate repeals, or modifications to chapter 945 and 565 to legalize for all citizens in this state the various forms of casino gambling including betting/banking games and the playing of gambling machines.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 29 (1990)

The conclusion which I reach concerning your second question is required by my opinion and conclusion regarding your first question. Neither the United States Supreme Court's decision in

California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians

, 480 U.S. 202 (1987), nor the provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C.A. 2701-2721 (West Supp. 1989), effective October 17, 1988, authorize Indian gaming activities within Indian country¯

which take the form of betting/banking gambling or the operation of gambling machines contrary to the criminal prohibitions contained in chapter 945 of the statutes for the following reasons.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 29 (1990)

In the

Cabazon

decision, the United States Supreme Court fashioned and set forth criteria which must be utilized to ascertain whether state law can effectively prohibit gambling activities within Indian country.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 29 (1990)

The Court determined that the gambling laws and policy of the state in regard to the questioned activity must be analyzed to determine whether or not those laws are in fact criminal-prohibitory, that is, whether in general

all persons

are prohibited from engaging in those activities or whether the activity in question has been, through changes in the state's public policy, converted from criminal-prohibitory to civil-regulatory, allowed but regulated activities. If the law of the state concerning an activity under inquiry totally prohibits any person from engaging in that specific activity, then that activity does violate the state's public policy regarding that activity. The statute is therefore prohibitory and the activity is prohibited from being conducted within the state and within Indian country. If, however, the state law in regard to the activity under inquiry allows the activity with regulations or restrictions then, even though violation of the restrictions may result in criminal sanctions, the law and policy is therefore classified as civil-regulatory in nature. The activity can therefore be conducted within Indian country free from state regulation and restrictions.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 30 (1990)

Applying these principles to the public policy concerning gambling in the State of Wisconsin, it appears that the policy toward lotteries has indeed, at least in regard to bingo, raffles, the state lottery and pari-mutuel on-track betting, become civil-regulatory in nature. It is no longer criminal-prohibitory and therefore such activities can be conducted within Indian country free from any regulation by the state.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 30 (1990)

However, through similar reasoning, the public policy in the State of Wisconsin concerning all forms of betting, the operation of gambling machines, and other forms of gambling not contained within the meaning of the term lottery, remains criminal-prohibitory in nature, not civil-regulatory. Banking games, such as roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat, Chemin de fer and similar casino gambling and use of gambling machines and devices such as slot machines, video gambling machines, and similar machines are absolutely prohibited to all persons in the State of Wisconsin. Therefore, under the

Cabazon

analysis, these other forms of gambling may not be conducted anywhere in the State of Wisconsin including within Indian country.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 30 (1990)

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C.A. 2710(d)(1) (West Supp. 1989), allows Class III gaming activities to be lawfully conducted within Indian country only if such activities are: "(B) located in a State that permits such gaming for any purpose by any person, organization, or entity,...."

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 31 (1990)

Class I gaming activities as described in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act are traditional games conducted by the Indian tribes. Class II are games of chance commonly known as bingo and certain card games. Class III are all forms of gaming which are not Class I or Class II.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 31 (1990)

Therefore, it is clear that Class III gaming activities encompass at least all those forms of gambling, which I discussed in my opinion on your first question,

i.e

, the betting/banking games and the operation and playing of gambling machines, which are criminally prohibited by chapter 945 of the statutes. Therefore,

ipso

facto,

those gambling activities are not "located in a State that permits such gaming for any purpose by any person, organization, or entity."

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 31 (1990)

It is my opinion, therefore, that the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act does not authorize the operation of casino-type gambling activities within Indian country. This same result is required under the United States Supreme Court decision in

Cabazon

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 31 (1990)

I am not unsympathetic to the importance of gaming activities within Indian country in providing jobs and economic development initiatives to Indians and non-Indians in the communities involved, and the importance of the revenues from such activities for tribal government functions, including their use for the health and general welfare of the Indian community. However, it is not my responsibility to establish the public policy on gambling in Wisconsin. My responsibility is to interpret and enforce the policy enacted by the Legislature. That policy as it relates to gambling is within the role, responsibility and ability of the Legislature to address as it did in enacting chapters 945 and 565.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 31 (1990)

The forms of gambling held illegal both within and without Indian country by this opinion are prohibited by statute only. These include video games of chance, slot machines, blackjack, poker, roulette, craps and so-called bingo-derivative games such as bingo-let, bingo-jack, etc. Therefore, should it chose to do so, the Legislature may authorize casino-type gambling in the State of Wisconsin and, therefore, within Indian country, or just within Indian country. Should it wish to do so, the Legislature need only enact appropriate repeals or modifications to chapters 945 and 565.

79 Op. Att'y Gen. 14, 31 (1990)

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